Monrovia Police: Car Stolen, Torched; Stealing Audio System - While It's Playing; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for Sept. 2–4. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 464 service events, resulting in 75 investigations.

Vehicle Vandalism

September 3 at 4:57 a.m., police dispatch received a call from a pedestrian reporting a vehicle parked in a parking lot in the 100 block of East Lemon with all of the windows broken out. An officer responded and it appears to be an act of vandalism.

Grand Theft – Suspect Arrested

September 3 at 8:32 p.m., a business in the 300 block of West Huntington called and reported a suspect inside the store had reached around a counter and removed an iPhone that was playing the store music. Once the music stopped, employees looked at the store security film and saw that the suspect was still inside the store, in line, and they called police. When the suspect left the store, he was detained by an officer outside and arrested for the theft.

Domestic Violence / Grand Theft Auto Recovered – Suspect Arrested

September 4 at 4:39 a.m., the victim of a recent domestic battery incident that occurred on August 31 called to report her car had been stolen. The suspect had battered his girlfriend, hitting her three times in the face, causing her right eye to swell shut and a half inch laceration above her eye. The suspect fled the location and is wanted by police for the battery charges. The victim reported that the vehicle had been taken from the front of her house. Approximately 30 minutes later, the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department responded to the report of a vehicle on fire. They located the woman's vehicle, which had been set on fire in the county area of Duarte. The boyfriend/suspect in the domestic battery had a key to the vehicle.

A wanted person's entry was made into the law enforcement computer system and the suspect was observed by Claremont police officers later that same day. A chase ensued. Monrovia Special Enforcement Team officers and detectives from the West San Gabriel Valley Anti-Crime Task Force responded to assist Claremont officers. Seeing the police presence at his home, the suspect surrendered to officers. The investigation is continuing.